African displacement

FMR
16

January 2003

The eleven articles in the feature section look at displacement in Africa in general and specifically relating to Burundi, Uganda, Sudan, Kenya, Western Sahara, Egypt, Zimbabwe and Angola. Three general articles look at Yemen, the ‘CNN effect’ on humanitarian crises, and Palestinian refugee property issues.

While the international community is disseminating the UN Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement in Burundi, local actors are also taking matters into their own hands to tell people about their rights at a grassroots level.

"Special attention should also be given to the prevention of contagious and infectious diseases, including AIDS, among internally displaced persons." (Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement, 19.3)

The presidential elections in Zimbabwe in May 2002 took place within a context of political violence, economic crisis and increasing food shortages. As conditions deteriorated and the possibility of a mass population exodus from Zimbabwe increased, neighbouring countries started preparations to deal with the possibility of a mass influx of refugees across their borders.

On paper, African refugees benefit from one of the world's most progressive protection regimes. In reality, however, they face endless human rights hurdles involving forced return, discrimination, arbitrary arrest and detention, restricted freedom of movement and expression and violations of social and economic rights.

"Lucky are the people of Yugoslavia and Somalia as the world's eyes rest on them. Condemned are the people of Juba … It may be a blessing to die in front of a camera - then at least the world will get to know about it. But it is painful to die or be killed, without anybody knowing it."
Hand-written letter smuggled out from the besieged Southern Sudanese town of Juba, August 1992.

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